Trick-box.



A. JEDEL.

TRICK BOX. APPLICATION FILED 00w. 7, .1909.

Patented, June 28, 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AARON JEDEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TRICK-BOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARoN JEDEL, a citi- Zen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Trick- Box, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in trick or joke apparatus, the object of the invention being to cover or secure articles within a box in such a manner that the retaining means will normally be invisible.

The invention involves the use of a sheet of colorless transparent glass or other similar material secured within the box and over the articles or contents of the box. When the box is handed to a person and he attempts to remove any of the articles from the box, he will, much to his surprise, find that he cannot grasp the articles because of the intervening glass. In order to render the illusion more nearly perfect, the bottom of the box preferably presents a bright light-reflecting inner surface, and this inner surface is only partially covered by the articles within the box. Thus, if the person to whom the box is handed, should instantly notice the reflection of light from the glass, he will think that this reflection comes from the reflecting inner surface of the bottom of the box. To simplify the construction and render the fastening means practically in visible, the articles themselves are preferably utilized for supporting the glass and the glass is held down in engagement with the articles by very small projections in the walls of the box.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette box constructed in accordance with my invention; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the box.

The details of construction of the box and cover are immaterial, as far as my invention is concerned. I have illustrated a cigarette box having a body portion 10 and a cover 11 hinged thereto, but it is evident that the box might be made of any different form or shape and the cover might be connected to the body of the box in any other suitable Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 7, 19 39.

Patented June as, 1910.

Serial No. 521,433.

manner instead of that shown. The metallic bottom 12 of the box is polished so as to present a bright light-reflecting inner surface, which is only partially covered by the articles within the box. In the box shown, these articles are a few cigarettes 13, although it is evident that pieces of candy or other confection, or any other suitable small articles could be used in place thereof.

Supported directly uponthe articles 13, is a sheet of glass 14, cut to fit within the box and with its edges in engagement with the side walls of the box. The glass is as transparent and colorless as can be conveniently obtained and is preferably of low index of refraction. The cigarettes support the glass from beneath and the glass is held down by any suitable means. As shown, the metallic side walls of the box are punched inwardly at a few points to present projections or lugs 15 in engagement with the upper surface of the glass. The glass is thus permanently held in place and the articles are permanently retained within the box.

In using the box, it is handed to a person and accompanied by an offer of a cigarette or whatever other article the box may contain. The person receiving the box should he desire one of the articles, immediately endeavors to remove it from the box and much to his surprise he finds that his fingers merely slip over the smooth upper surface of the glass without coming in contact with the articles.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A trick box having a metal bottom presenting a light-reflecting inner surface, a lure within said box and only partially covering said bottom and constituting an article apparently adapted to be removed for consumption, and a sheet of colorless glass covering said lure and secured to the walls of the box, the reflection of light by the bottom of the box tending to prevent a person from noticing any reflection of light from the glass and to render the latter invisible.

2. A trick box having a metal body portion including a bottom and side walls, said bottom presenting a light-reflecting inner surface, a lure within said box and only par tially covering said bottom and constituting an article apparently adapted for removal from the box for consumption, a sheet of transparent colorless glass supported by said lure and having its ed es in engagement ,dered inconspicuous by the lights reflection 10 with the side Walls of the 02;, said side Walls from the bottom of the box. having portions thereof bent inwardly to In testimony whereof I have signed my constitute projections 01' lugs for permaname to this specification in the presence of 5 nently retaining the glass in a position betWo subscribing Witnesses.

low the top of the box, and a cover for said AARON J EDEL. box normally protecting said glass, said Witnesses: glass serving to prevent the removal of the C. W. FAIRBANK,

lure from the box, and the glass being ren- PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs. 

